Lesson 3.2 - People of the North

The Canadian Arctic has extremely cold winters.  However, Inuit have managed very well because they know how to make clothing that keeps them warm on the coldest days. 

Read page 121 to learn more about the clothing of these ingenious people. Then, answer the following questions.

Question 1. How many suits of clothing might the Inuit wear on a very cold day?  How many suits would they wear on a cold day?

Question 2. Inuit clothing does not use down.  What kind of material is used instead of down?  How does the material trap air?  

Question 3. Which way is the fur directed on the inner suit of Inuit clothing?  Explain. 

Question 4. Which way is the fur directed on the outer suit of Inuit clothing?  Explain.

Question 5. What kind of fur is used to make the hood of an Inuit suit?  Why is this kind of fur used?

Question 6. How many layers of material do the Inuit use for footwear? 

Question 7. What is the preferred material for making footwear?  Explain.

Question 8. Why are Inuit parkas much larger than one would expect?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. How many suits of clothing might the Inuit wear on a very cold day?  How many suits would they wear on a cold day? 

According to what you read, they wear two complete suits of clothing on a cold day.  You could misinterpret this depending on what you think a cold day is.  If the temperature is warmer than -15°C, then they would likely need only one suit of clothing.  Two suits are necessary if the temperature drops below that.

Question 2. Inuit clothing does not use down.  What kind of material is used instead of down?  How does the material trap air? 

Caribou fur is used instead of down.  Caribou hair is hollow.  The fur of caribou is also dense.  This combination traps many air spaces, which is responsible for the good insulation properties.

Question 3. Which way is the fur directed on the inner suit of Inuit clothing?  Explain.

The fur is directed towards the body on the inner suit of Inuit clothing.  The trapped air in the fur is an excellent insulator.  Also, fur wicks away moisture from the body to the outside keeping the body dry.

Question 4. Which way is the fur directed on the outer suit of Inuit clothing?  Explain.

The fur is directed away from the body on the outer suit of Inuit clothing.  The fur acts as a windproofing material.  Fur around the face helps trap some air, which helps warm the cold air before it is breathed in as well as keeping the face warmer than if it was exposed completely.

Question 5. What kind of fur is used to make the hood of an Inuit suit?  Why is this kind of fur used?

The fur of wolverine, wolf, and some types of dog are used to make the hood of an Inuit suit.  These furs do not let water vapour from the person's breath freeze on the hair.  This keeps the hood clear of ice buildup. 

Question 6. How many layers of material do the Inuit use for footwear?

They use up to four layers in footwear.

Question 7. What is the preferred material for making footwear?  Explain.

The preferred material for making footwear is sealskin.  Sealskin is waterproof; keeping the feet dry is very important.

Question 8. Why are Inuit parkas much larger than one would expect?

The Inuit parkas are much larger than one would expect because of the importance of keeping hands and arms warm.  The parka is big enough that the arms can be pulled out of the sleeves and into the parka beside the body.  This way, a person can warm hands and arms easily using the body heat. 

 


Go to the next page to continue Lesson 3.